Western sanctions imposed on Russia following its attack on Ukraine have severely impacted Russian civil aviation. Due to a shortage of spare parts, Russia was forced to ground 58 passenger aircraft in 2024.
Russian Civil Aviation Under Pressure from Sanctions
The head of Russia’s Federal Aviation Agency, Dmitry Yadrov, stated that the aircraft were taken out of service due to accidents and the inability to carry out repairs in line with international standards. While Russian airlines have a fleet of 1,138 aircraft and 920 helicopters, the pressure of sanctions on the fleet is increasing.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the US, the European Union, and other countries banned the sale of aircraft and spare parts to Moscow. In addition, Boeing and Airbus halted technical support for existing aircraft, making critical C Check and D Check maintenance impossible.
Russian Aviation Sector Seeks Alternative Solutions
In an attempt to maintain their Western-built aircraft, Russian airlines have begun using some planes as a source of spare parts. However, two-thirds of Russia’s civil aircraft fleet consists of foreign-made planes, which account for 90% of the country’s passenger transport.
Even Russia’s domestically produced SSJ-100 aircraft remain dependent on Western-supplied spare parts, meaning efforts to mitigate the impact of sanctions remain limited.
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